Police Discover Possible Motive of Texas Church Shooting

Police in Sutherland Springs, Texas may have discovered the motive for the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, perpetrated by Devin Patrick Kelley. At some point before the shooting, he was threatening his mother-in-law in what the police called a domestic dispute, but they refused to name the nature of the argument. His mother-in-law attends the church but for some reason she was not there on Sunday. Police believe he intended to kill her.

Kelley shot 26 people and injured at least 20 others during midmorning service Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs southeast of San Antonio.

After leaving the church after the shooting, he was shot at by a neighbor brandishing a rifle. Kelley then fled by car and was chased by the neighbor and another resident before he crashed 11 miles up the road.

Officials say he may have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Texas Department of Safety officials said Kelley called his father while on a high-speed chase away from the church, saying he had been shot and he did not think he would survive.

Kelley did not have a license to carry, according to public safety officials, but he did have a non-commissioned unarmed private security license. He was in possession of three guns when police found him.

It appears that Kelly had acquired the weapon illegally. He had applied for a carry permit but was turned down. No reason was given for the refusal. However, since he was charged with domestic violence and drummed out of the service for it, that would be one of the main reasons why he was turned down.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Kelley had previously been denied a state gun permit. Abbott did not provide information on why the permit was denied but Kelley received a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force in 2012 over charges of domestic abuse. It is unclear how Kelley obtained the military-style rifle used in the attack.

Law enforcement said they seized three guns from Kelley: a Ruger-AR556 rifle, which was found at the church; a 9mm Glock handgun, which was found in the shooter’s car; and a Ruger 22 handgun, which was also found in the shooter’s car.

It is obvious that Kelly had mental problems. He applied for a carry permit and was refused. He then acquired three weapons illegally.

This being the case, what law could Democrats propose that could have prevented this attack? None. What you can expect are new bills on guns that takes guns away from law abiding citizens so that they will be helpless when confronted by a burglar or a mugger or even a mass murderer.